Toothbrush construction



Dec. 16, 1952 SPEIG TOOTHBRUSH CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 26, 1949 KARL M. SPEIG' INVENTOE. HUEBNE/P, 56' E HLE R, WOPRE L HE/PZ/G 8 CALDWELL,

WA TTOR/yEVS.

Patented Dec. 16, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TOOTHBRUSH CONSTRUCTION Karl M. Speig, Pacoima, Calif.

Application August 26, 1949, Serial No. 112,466

1 Claim.

This invention relates to toothbrushes and more particularly to a toothbrush which may be carried in the manner of a fountain pen, in ones pocket, and which includes a dentifrice within the handleor body portion thereof.

It is intended by the instant toothbrush construction to provide a sanitary and convenient toothbrush and receptacle therefor incorporating a dentifrice such as paste or liquid, preferably the former, or optionally, even powder in its handle. In providing the instant combination, the full size of an adult toothbrush is sought to be maintained while providing telescoping parts adapted to reduce the over-all proportions of the design in order that the same may be convenientlycarried in the users pocket, or optionally, in a purse or suitcase.

It is among the objects of this invention to provide a combined toothbrush and dentifrice holder of the desired character described which is of simple construction and designed for mass production at an economy of cost.

It is another object of the invention to provide a toothbrush and dentifrice construction in a unitary form having-the appearance of a fountain pen or other similar instrument normally carried upon the person.

It is another object of the invention to promote tooth hygiene of the user away from home with attendant salutory eifect and convenience.

Another more specific object of the invention is the provision of an improved construction of the character described with means for actuating a dentifrice delivering mechanism by appropriate manipulation of the toothbrush portion orremote handle portion of the device.

Another further object of the invention is the provision of an economical handle made from readily available materials having an unrestricted container capacity for refilling and cleansing of the apparatus.

Another specific object of the invention is the provision of a toothbrush construction capable of containing a dentifrice and also capable of being telescoped and contained within the handle proper.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a multi-part toothbrush construction, parts of which may be dispensed with or interchanged to provide a Versatility of compass and usefulness.

In addition to the above recited objects it is intended by the instant invention to provide improvements over prior art structures heretofore intended to accomplish generally similar purposes and in this connection, the invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter set forth, pointed out in the appended claim, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 4

In the drawings- Figure l is a side view of a toothbrush embodying this invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken as on a line 3-3 of Figure 2, enlarged;

Figure 4 is a sectional view similar to Figure 3 but taken on a line 44 of Figure 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is illustrated by way of example, but not of rigid limitation, a toothbrush generally designated at ll] comprising a handle II, a brush cap I 2 a plunger cap I3, a brush I4 preferably threadably extensible within the handle I I as by means of a threaded plug I5, and a threaded plunger It.

The plug I5 preferably makes threadable connection with the cylindrical bore I! of the handle 'II which is optionally tubular in form and threaded throughout its length from the brush end I8 to its plunger end I9.

Externally, the handle II is further provided as'with threads at the brush end and similar external threads '2I at the plunger end complementary to mating female threads upon the cap I2 covering the brush, and the cap I3 covering the outer end of the plunger.

The brush I4 includes a neck having a hollow interior 26 communicating as at 21 with the interior of the handle II. Radial ports 30 communicate between the interior 26 of the neck 25 between the tuftsof bristles 3|.

The neck 25 of the brush is non-rotatably secured in the plug I5, said plug being rotatable within the handle II in threaded relationship thereto. Thus, theplug I5 may be threaded by rotation of the neck 25 from one end I8 to and through the opposite end I9 of the handle.

Optionally, a fingerpiece may be provided on the plug It so that if the plug be entirely removed from the handle II, the brush may be reversed and inserted foremost into the handle I I, which is of the size adequate to accommodate the same, the handle thus serving as a container for the brush whose insertion and removal is facilitated by the fingerpiece 35 for rotatin the plug I5.

Such reversal of the brush may also serve incidentally to clean the threads I'i within the handle I I. This is not, however, its primary purpose.

The plunger I6 may comprise a rod 38 keyed to and rotatable by a knurled knob 39 which may, but neednot, be of a diameter small enough to enter the handle II. The rod 38 is keyed to a threaded piston 48 by means of a pin 4| optionally residing in a bore extending diametrically through the piston 48 and the corresponding end of the rod 38. In this manner, when the plunger I 6 is threadably removed from the handle I I, the pin 4| may be pushed out of the piston 46 to release the .rod .38 whichis thereby rendered separable.

The plunger 16 may be made up of telescoping segments if desired keyed together in any conventional manner so that the knob 39 may be held in a position adjacent the end IQ of the handle and revolved in place to force the piston 40 axially within the handle. If desired, the knob 39 may be externally threaded to'match a complementary threaded axial bore in the piston 40 so that the knob 39 may be held stationary while the piston 40 is axially threaded as aforesaid in the handle II. By the illustrated construction, the amount of dentifrice 42 remaining within the handle I I may be readily determined. Otherwise, it would be desirable to make the handle ll of a transparent material such as plastic so that the position of the plunger and amount of dentifrice remaining can be directly observed.

A fingerpiece 43 may be provided upon either end of the piston 40 so that if the rod 38 be removed as heretofore stated, the piston 40 may be reversed in a like manner to the brush and inserted in the end l9 of the handle, flush therewith, to seal the handle when the same is used to contain the brush when the brush is reversed as aforesaid.

The plunger cap 43, provided for convenience and to permit the device to be carried in the pocket of the user, may therefore be provided with a clip 44 of any desired design.

In the use of the above described device, the

handle H is filled with dentifrice 42 either by removal of the plug or of the piston 40 or both. The interior of the handle being of uniform dimensions throughout facilitates the filling thereof with the dentifrice.

Inasmuch as the plug 15 and piston 49 are threadable within the handle ll, their threaded extensions therein wipe the threaded bore of the handle free of the dentifrice while compacting the same in a central area, the dentifrice meanwhile serving as a lubricant to the threads.

If the unitary device is utilized, together with the caps l2 and I3-thereof, these are removed and the knob 39 rotated urging the piston 49 to the left as illustrated in Figure 2 and forcing the dentifrice 42 through the hollow interior 26 of the neck of the brush and thence through the lateral ports for use in a conventional manner.

Paste is preferred, but dentifrice may also be of liquid form. It may be noted that rotation of the neck or brush will serve equaly well as or with rotation of the plunger IE to force the dentifrice toward the bristles 3 l. Thereby, the plunger may be made approximately one-half the length of the handle H and the brush, or at least the neck thereof, may be made of a corresponding length to the plunger. In this manner, a toothbrush construction of minimum length may be provided subject to the further reductions in length by a modification of the plunger construction above noted.

Likewise, as above suggested, the caps I 2 and I3 may be dispensed with and the brush inserted into the handle, the dentifrice 42 being omitted, the handle thus serving as a container for the brush and the plug 15 serving to close the end l8 of the handle as by rotation of the fingerpiece 35. If so used the piston may be reversed and removed from the rod 38 for closin the opening l9. Pin holes may then be formed in the caps l2 and I3 or elsewhere as desired to prevent fluid look.

This invention features the provision of a versatile toothbrush and dentifrice container which may be optionally employed as a toothbrush holder, parts of which may be dispensed with as desired. It likewise features a provision of a toothbrush construction of improved usefulness, sanitation and transportability.

Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claim so as to embrace any and all equivalent structures.

The invention having been herein described, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A toothbrush construction comprising a tubular handle internally threaded throughout its length, a plug externally threaded complementary to the threaded interior of the handle and axially threadable therein, a brush portion including a neck secured in said plug eccentrically thereof, the brush portion having dimensions not greater than the corresponding dimensions of the plug whereby said brush may be telescoped within the handle, said plug and said brush being reversible whereby said brush may be wholly inserted in said handle, said plug serving as a cap for said handle to contain said brush, a fingerplece on said plug on the opposite side thereof from said brush to facilitate rotation of said plug within said handle, a piston externally threaded and complementary to the threaded interior of the handle, a plunger rod secured to said piston for rotation of the same within the handle, re-' leasable means keying the plunger rod to the piston whereby the piston may serve as a closure for the handle opposite from the brush-retaining end thereof, manipulative means keyed to the piston rod for rotating the plunger rod and piston within the handle, said neck having a hollow interior normally communicating inwardly with the interior of the tubular handle and including radial ports directed toward the bristles of the brush whereby relative rotation of the plug forces a dentifrice contained in the handle through the hollow interior of the neck and to the brush bristles, and whereby relative rotation of the piston by rotation thereof within the handle also forces the dentifrice through the neck of the brush and to said bristles.

KARL M. SPEIG,

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,973,158 Small et al Sept. 11, 1934 2,053,145 Hamel Sept. 1, 1936 2,107,242 Gates Feb. 1, 1938 2,136,979 Mureau et al Nov. 15, 1938 2,294,631 Rocca Sept. 1, 1942 2,299,564 Castillo Oct. 20, 1942 2,521,928 Mauro et a1 Sept. 12, 1950 2,554,287 Wilson May 22, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 41,839 Norway Aug. 24, 1923 302,772 Italy Nov. 8, 1932 355,102 Great Britain Aug. 20, 1931 412,154 Germany Apr. 14, 1925 

